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Region gets early preview of winter

The snow that covered grass and made roads wet in southern Minnesota on Monday began to taper off by the afternoon.

The National Weather Service cancelled a winter weather advisory that had been issued for about two dozen counties in Minnesota and two in western Wisconsin. Forecasters said light snow would continue in some areas, but it wasn't expected to amount to much.

Snow totals varied, with an area in Wright County recording the most with 4 inches. Most other areas recorded between 1 and 4 inches, but up-to-date totals weren't available for every area, and the snow continued to fall in some places.

The snow made for a wet morning commute on Monday, but the flakes weren't accumulating on the roadways. Besides a few crashes and spinouts, MnDOT reported that morning traffic moved smoothly in most areas.

The weather service said snow shouldn't make driving hazardous the rest of the day in southern Minnesota. However, new advisories were issued for parts of Beltrami and Koochiching counties in northern Minnesota, where lake effect snow was expected to result in larger accumulations east of Upper and Lower Red Lake.

There will be a chance of snow or rain Tuesday night through Friday in southern Minnesota, but sunny skies and temperatures in the 50s are expected to return by Saturday.

Gallery

Walkers along Mississippi River Boulevard in St. Paul were greeted with a blanket of snow Monday, Oct. 12, 2009.MPR Photo/Jeffrey ThompsonView full galleryAn overnight-into-morning snowfall has blanketed the Twin Cities and much of the state in snow. This tree stands in south west Minneapolis.MPR Photo/Tom WeberTrees are blanketed by snow in south west Minneapolis.MPR Photo/Tom WeberSt. Paul residents, including those on Ashland Avenue, woke up to an early dose of winter Monday, Oct. 12, 2009.MPR Photo/Jeffrey Thompson